site.btaDance Ensemble Bulgari Based in Cyprus to Perform at Munich Gathering in May

Dance ensemble Bulgari based in Cyprus will perform at the 11th Expats Join Hands in Worldwide Dance travelling folklore festival. The festival will take place in BMW Park in Munich, Germany, from May 15 to 17.

Head of the ensemble, Todor Zdravkov, and Chair of Culture Club Bulgarche - Larnaca, Aneliya Hristova, told BTA that this will be the ensemble's first performance as an independent group, since previously, it was part of a group that represented the Bulgarian community in Cyprus.

Bulgari will stage a dance entitled Trakiyski Zadyavki [Thracian teasing/flirting]. Zdravkov shared: "Trakiyski Zadyavki is not merely a dance, but a story about the journey of young lovers, from childhood games and falling in love, through the gossip of the neighbours in the village square, to the love between a young man and a young woman. All of this is viewed through the lens of Thracian tradition, which has been preserved over the centuries. A story of faithful, true, and pure love, told through the language of Bulgarian dance and folklore."

Zdravkov reported that Bulgari's rehearsals have been "extreme" and added: "Just a month and a half ago, we had finalized the choreography we had originally announced, but over the past month, we found out that some of our colleagues were staging the same choreography. So, we decided to change our concept and created a new dance and music. On top of that, many of our lead dancers cannot make it to Munich, so at the Expats Join Hands in Worldwide Dance festival, we will be performing with our folk dance group. For them, this is their first time performing on stage with choreography, and it is a big challenge, and for me, as the director, even more so. But, as our ensemble's motto goes, 'Despite all the vicissitudes, we can do it – we Bulgarians can stand the test of time!' I am convinced that this time, too, we will withstand the pressure and deliver a top-notch performance."

Dance ensemble Bulgari was founded by Zdravkov in 2008. In 2020, it merged with Culture Club Bulgarche - Larnaca, chaired by Aneliya Hristova.

The travelling festival Expats Join Hands in Worldwide Dance is organized by and for amateur folklore ensembles performing outside Bulgaria. The initiative was launched by the Ot Izvora group in Lyon, France, which hosted both the first edition in 2015 and the tenth edition in 2025. More than 100 dance ensembles and over 4,000 guests are expected at the 11th edition in Munich in May. The Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) is the official media partner of the event and will present all participants.